New program—Process Technology

Process Technology involves every aspect of chemical processing: extracting and refining resources such as oil and natural gas, refining chemicals and carefully monitoring the process that makes it happen.

Prospective students can now become a Process Technician at Seward County Community College/Area Technical School, Liberal, Kansas beginning this fall.

With the development of renewable energy production in Kansas, many industry opportunities are available for southwest Kansas. Nationally, few other colleges offer programs that meet the criteria for training in ethanol, biodiesel, food processing, or related industries.

Students will

·               learn to be safe and environmentally responsible with respect to themselves and coworkers,

·               develop  a basic understanding of math, chemistry, electronics, writing, process flow, and equipment and how it relates to process technology,

·               demonstrate knowledge of various process industries: oil and gas, chemical, mining, power generation, pulp and paper, water and wastewater treatment, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturing and how to function effectively in industry,

·               learn what it means to contribute to a company’s quality control.

Students can earn a one-year certificate or a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree.

Courses include technical composition, technical mathematics, safety, introduction to process technology, basic electrical circuits, instrumentation and control, process equipment, basic blueprint reading and process industry operations.

Graduates who successfully complete the program can work anywhere that requires a chemical treatment or process, such as energy processing and power generation, food and beverage processing, waste- or water-treatment plants or pharmaceutical manufacturing.

For information, contact Harold Fick, Process Technology specialist, 620-417-1690.

February is Career and Technical Education Month.